Bipolar selector switch



Dec. 12, 1933. J. E. SHELLEY 1,939,369

BIPOLAR SELECTOR SWITCH Filed March 10, 1932 Patented D... 12, 1933 .UNITED STATES- PAT ENT OFFICE My invention relates to rotary electric switches and particularly to a bi-polar selective switch.

It is an important object of my invention to provide a switch of this type whereby two or more dependent or independent circuits of a plurality of circuits may be simultaneously closed or simultaneously opened and two or more other electric circuits similarly closed or opened.

It is also an important object of my invention to provide a newand novel construction of parts, whereby the cost of manufacture is reduced and the efliciency thereof augmented.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a'reading of the following description in connection with the drawing wherein for purposesof illustration I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view through one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the base of the embodiment.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan of one of the contact making elements.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the contacts utilized in the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view through another embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing; wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout the same, the numeral 5 generally designates the embodiment of my invention shown in Figure 1, while the numeral 6 generally designates the embodiment of my invention which is shown in Figure 5. It will be seen that these embodiments have in common a shallow metallic, generally cylindrical casing 'lv open at the bottom and provided with an inwardly projecting flange 8 at its lower edge whereby to retain an insulating base 9 which rests upon such through and is keyed to another bushing 12 in a dielectric disc-rotor 13, and above the bushing 12 and through a third bushing 14. The bushing 14 is arranged to receive the edges of an opening 15 in the top of the casing 7 so that the bushing 14 is carried by the top of the casing. The shaft 11 is screw-threaded at its upper end as indicated at 16 and a lock nut 17 is placed thereon to engage the upper surface of the bushing 14.

A similar structural arrangement obtains in the case of the modification shown in Figure 5 wherein 7a designates the casing, 90. the base, 8a the flange holding thev base in the casing la, and the numeral 13a the dielectric disc rotor. The making and breaking of contacts so as to close two or more circuits simultaneously is efiected by rotation of the shaft 11 which has keyed thereto, as indicated at 18, the bushing 12 which carries the disk rotor 13. This arrangement is common also to the embodiment shown in Figure 5, but

it is not shown on the drawing, such a showing being believed to be unnecessary for the purposes of disclosure herein.

In theembodimentshown in Figure 1,- the rotor 13 may have the form of an'elongated dielectric plate a bottom view of one end of which is shown in Figure 3, or it may have the disc form already alluded to. A dielectric block 19 depends from each end portion of the rotor 13 and to the underside of this is secured a pair of dumb-bell-shaped contacting members 20 secured in place by a retaining member 21 which has legs 22 projected through the rotor 13 and the block 19. The contacting elements 20 are carried axially aligned with a diameter of the rotor as indicated, and they are arranged as shown in Figure 1 in superposed relation with their ends separated to receive between them the pairs of contact elements exemplified in the drawing at 23, 23 and 24, 24.

Reference to Figure 4 will disclose the construction and nature of the contact elements 23 and 24. Each of the contact elements comprises a horizontal arm 25 which is received between the ends of the superposed contacting members 20 in the manner shown in Figure 1 whereby to make the contact. One end of the horizontal arm 25 is supported by a short depending vertical plate 26 which has depending from its lower end an outwardly and angularly directed tab 27. From an intermediate point oneach side edge of the plate 26 there projects a horizontal arm 28 which extends for a short distance in the plane of the plate 26 and is then at right angles thereto,

so that the arms 28 are in parallelism. Each of vidual circuits having'no interconnection. It is obvious that any suitable number of circuits may be arranged for actuation by the switch of my invention simply by providing a sufficient number anda proper alignment of the pairs of openings 30 contact elements 23, 24.

The openings 30 are generally T-shaped, the base of the T being slightly rounded as indicated at 31. In the outside circle the T-shaped openings have their feet radially outwardly disposed, while the openings 30 in the inner circle have their feet directed radially inwardly.

The contact elements 23, and 24 are placed into the apertures 30 by passing the long tab 27 downwardly through the foot portion of the opening and theninserting the short tabs 29 in the end portions of the cross head portion of the opening. The arms 28 will then rest upon the upper surface of the base 9 as shown in Figure 1. The openings 30 are of such shape and size as to receive the contacts snugly so that there is a frictional engagement of the contacts in the openings whereby they are held therein. If desired, the lower ends of the tabs 29 may be bent outwardly so as to engage the underside of the base 9 and lock the contacts in the openings. The conductors are to be secured in any suitable manner to the tabs 27.

As the rotor 13 is rotated the elements 20 will receive the arms 25 of two diametrically aligned pairs of contacts and electrically bridge each pair whereby, for example, a circuit will be completed through the contacts 23, 23 simultaneously with the closing of a circuit through the contacts 24, 24.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5 ordinary switch point elements 32, 33 take the place of the contacts 23, 24 and are arranged to be bridged through the medium ladle-shaped spring contact elements 34, 35 projecting from the rotor 13a which is of somewhat smaller diameter than the rotor 13. The contact elements 34, 35 are secured upon the upper and lower surfaces of the marginal portion of the rotor as shown, being electrically connected by bolts or the like 36.

Though I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of my invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made in materials and structure and arrangement of parts consistent with the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a rotary switch having a di-electric base and a switch rotor rotatable in a plane parallel with the base, said base having a pair of concentrically spaced circles of circumferentially spaced openings, the openings in one circle being diametrically alined with the openings in the other circle, contact means in each opening in the base, a radially inwardly disposed projection on the contact means of the radially outward circle and spaced from the base, a radially outwardly directed projection on the contact means of the radially inward circle and spaced from the base, a pair of diametrically opposed contact makers carried by the plate and between the plate and the base, split end formations on each of the contact makers, said split end formations being adapted to receive simultaneously therein the opposed projections on selected pairs of diametrically alined and opposed contacts on opposite sides of the base, when the rotor is selectively rotated to bring the pair of diametrically opposed contact makers toward and into diametrical alinement therewith, whereby diametrically opposed pairs of radially spaced contacts may be selected and bridged simultaneously.

2. A switch comprising a dielectric base, a plurality of contacts arranged in concentric circles on the base and in diametrically aligned pairs, a dielectric rotor, contact means on diametrically opposite sides ,of the rotor arranged for bridging simultaneously diametrically opposed radially aligned pairs of contacts, said contact means having split ends receiving portions of the contacts of pairs of contacts with which it may be engaged.

3. A,multiple contact switch for opening or closing simultaneously two or more of a plurality of dependent or independent circuits, said switch comprising a base, a plurality of diametrically aligned and opposed series of contacts arranged in spaced concentric circles on the base, a rotor, contact means on diametrically opposite side of the rotor arranged for bridging simultaneously the contacts of each diametrically opposed series of contacts, said rotor being arranged for rotation to bring its contact means into and out of bridging relation with the diametrically opposed series of contacts for simultaneously closing and simultaneously opening said plurailty of circults, said contact means having split ends receiving portions of the contacts of pairs of contacts with which it may be engaged.

4. In a rotary switch including a di-electric base provided with concentric spaced circles of circumferentially spaced holes, and a dielectric rotor having diametrically opposed multiple contact elements; spring contacts mounted in the holes in the base, each of said spring contacts comprising a frame for resting upon the base about the hole, tabs extending from the frame and through the hole and frictionally engaging sides of the hole so as to be removably held, a conductor connecting tab extending from the frame and through the hole, and a contactable member extending laterally from the frame and having a portion extending along and spaced from the adjacent side of the base, said member multiple contact elements when the rotor is rotated.

5. A spring contact for assembling on a base having an opening therein, said spring contact comprising a framefor engaging one side of the base adjacent the opening, tabs extending from the frame and into the opening and arranged to frictionally engage the sides of the opening so as to be held therein, an arm projecting from the frame and extending along and spaced from the said one side of the base, and a conductor connecting tab projecting from the frame.

6. A spring contact structure for mounting in a base having a T-shaped opening, said contact structure comprising a frame engaging one side of the base about the T-shaped opening, tabs on the frame and extending into the opening and engaging the opposite ends of the cross head I ranged to frictionally engage the sides of the opening and arranged-to frictionally engage the sides of the opening so as to be held therein, an

arm projecting from the'frame and extending a pair of contacts at one side of the pivotal point of said arm, a contact bridging element mounted on the arm, and arranged to be carried by the arm into a position between and engaging both of the contacts, said element comprising an outer pair of springs normally urged toward each other for receiving therebetween a portion of one of the contacts, and an inner pair of springs normally urged toward each other for receiving therebetween a portion of the remaining contact.

9. In aswitch comprising a rotor and a pair of radially spaced contacts located at one side of the rotor, a contact bridging element mounted on the rotor and arranged to be carried by the .rotor into a position between and engaging the contacts, said element comprising an outer pair of springs normally urged toward each other and for receiving therebetween a portion of the outer one of the contacts, and aninner pair of springs normally urged toward each other and for receiving therebetween a portion. of 4 the inner contact.

10. A rotary switch for simultaneously connecting or disconnecting two dependent or independent electrical circuits, said rotary switch comprising abase, a journal bushing mounted in an opening provided in the base, a shaft extending through and journaled in the journal bushing, a collar keyed on the shaft at one side of the base, a rotor carried by the collar and spaced from the said one side of the base, a combined cover and shaft support spacedly surrounding the shaft, the rotor, and the base, and engaging the base, a second bushing mounted in an opening in the cover and journalling a portion of the shaft, a pair of diametrically opposed blocks on the side of the rotor adjacent the base, a contact member on each block comprising a pair of electrically connected contact engaging elements arranged radially spaced, a pair of concentrically spaced circles of contacts on the base, said contact engaging elements being diametrically aligned, and the contacts of the circles being so arranged in diametrically opposed and aligned pairs that the pairs of contact engaging members will simultaneously engage and bridge diametrically opposed and aligned pairs of contacts, each of said contact engaging elements comprising a pair of springs normally urged toward each other and extending in planes substantially parallel to the base, and each of said contacts comprising a spring arm extending along and spaced from the base in a plane to be engaged by its companion contact engaging member and received between the pair of springs thereof when the rotor is rotated.

11. A spring contact for assembling on a base Y having an opening therein, said spring contact opening so as to be held therein, an arm projecting from the frame and extending along and spaced from the said one side of the base, and a conductor connecting tab projecting from the frame, said contact being constructed of flat metal.

12. A spring contact for assembling on a base having an opening therein, said spring contact comprising a frame for engaging one side of the base'adjacent the opening, tabs extending from the frame and into the opening and arranged to frictionally engage the sides of the opening so as to be held therein, an arm pro-- jecting from the frame and extending along and spaced from the said one side of the base, and a conductor connecting tab projecting from the frame, said contact being constructed of flat as to be held therein, an arm projecting from the frame and extending along'and spaced from the said one side of the'base, and a conductor connecting tab projecting from the frame, said opening being made through the base, portions of the tabs being extended through the opening and bent against the other side of the base so as to cooperate with the frame in holding the contact in position on the base.

14. A spring contact for assembling on a base having an opening therein, said spring contact comprising a frame for engaging one side of the base adjacent the opening, tabs extending from the frame and into the opening and arranged to frictionally engage the sides-of the opening so as to be held therein, an arm projecting from the frame and extending along and spaced from the said one side of the base, and a conductor connecting tab projecting from the frame, said contact being constructed of flat metal in a single blank, portions of the tabs being extended through the opening and against the other side of the base in a manner to cooperate with the frame in holding the contact in position on the base.

15. A spring contact for assembling on a base having an opening therein, said spring contact comprising a frame for engaging one side of the base adjacent the opening, tabs extending from the frame and into the opening and arranged to frictionally engage the sides of the opening so as to be held therein, an arm projecting from the frame and extending along and spaced from the said one side of the base, and a conductor connecting tab projecting from the frame, said opening being made through the base.

.16. In a switch comprising a swingable arm and a pair of radially aligned, radially spaced contacts, a bridging element for simultaneously engaging said pair of contacts, said bridging element comprising a first pair of opposed springs for receiving therebetween a portion of the outer contact, and a second pair of opposed springs for receiving therebetween a portion of the inner contact.

17. In a switch comprisinga rotor and a radially aligned and radially spaced pair of contacts, the outer contact having an inwardly projecting tab, and the inner contact having an outwardly projecting tab, a bridging element carried by the rotor and arranged for engaging said tabs to bridge said contacts.

18. In a switch comprising a swingable arm and a pair of radially aligned and radially spaced 5 contacts, the outer contact having an inwardly projecting tab and the inner contact having an outwardly projecting tab, a bridging element JOHN EDWARD SHELLEY. 

